International Educator Link Pilot Program

In a joint venture with the Tully Central School District, Tully, N.Y., SUNY Cortland will participate in an international program with the Mountain Creek State Schools in Queensland, Australia. The goal of the program is for local educators to experience new learning methods and return with ideas for implementation

The initial stage of this new program will find the Tully superintendent and an elementary school educator travelling to the Sunshine Coast of Australia this summer to become immersed over a two-week period in the culture and educational system of the host country. Upon their return, both Tully educators will be sharing what they have learned from the experience through presentations in the school, community and region.

The International Educator Link Pilot Program is an extension of the Regional Professional Development School partnership with SUNY Cortland. The University has provided student teacher opportunities in the Mountain Creek State Schools and others in this region of Australia for eight years. This is the first time that a public school partnership has been established.

Future plans for the program including hosting a teacher from Australia in the Tully district during the 2010-2011 school year and connecting classrooms in each district through the use of video conferencing capabilities available in the schools.